On body economics and fitting in: upward mobility and obesity stigma in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Jamaican culture is considered ‘fat-loving,’ and thus less likely to foster obesity stigma. However, the importance of tourism to Jamaica’s economy, global trends toward a thinness aesthetic and extant ethos’ of both bodily self-acceptance and status-based bodily critique suggest that obesity stigma may exist in Jamaica – particularly in the context of class status aspiration.

Objective: This pilot study examined the relationship between upward mobility and fat stigma in Kingston, Jamaica in two samples.

Design: The first sample – nineteen college-enrolled 18–25 year olds – completed an online survey. Responses were grouped by perceived wealth status.

Results: No relationship was found between wealth status and obesity stigma. There was no association between wealth group and body ideal – whether slender or curvaceous. However, responses to questions concerning the value of having an ideal body differed by wealth grouping. Those with lower perceived wealth tended to cite ‘fitting in to society’ as a benefit of having an ideal body. Half (5 of 10) the lower wealth group ranked having an ideal body ‘very important;’ one person in the higher wealth group did so. Findings from twenty ethnographic interviews conducted in Kingston’s public spaces with 18–25 year olds confirmed the obesity stigma/social aspiration relationship. Having an ideal body was associated with greater economic and social opportunity and a sense of ‘fitting in.’

Conclusion: These findings suggest that though (1) there seems to be no singular, size-related aesthetic in Jamaica; (2) obesity stigma does exist; and (3) experience of stigma may be affected by socio-economic status and socio-economic aspiration.

KEYWORDS:

• Obesity
• stigma
• upward mobility
• social acceptance
• Jamaica

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Evan B. Dreyer, MD, PhD, Maureen Floriano, and Brittany Ratiliff for editorial assistance, and David Zurakowski, PhD and Catherine C. Osborn for statistical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Stephanie M. McClure http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7559-8954

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a National Science Foundation Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences EAGER Award [grant number 1244944].